Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sleeping & Eating
Hillcrest House££
(
01988-402018;
www.hillcrest-wigtown.co.uk
;
Station Rd; s £40-45, d £68-78;
B&B
)
Wow! That's what we said when we saw the rooms in Hillcrest House. A noble stone
building in a quiet part of town, the house features high ceilings and huge windows; spend
the extra for one of the superior rooms, which have stupendous views overlooking rolling
green hills and the sea beyond. This is all complemented by a ripper breakfast involving
fresh local produce.
ReadingLasses Bookshop Café£
(
www.reading-lasses.com
;
17 South Main St; mains £6.50; 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, also
noon-5pm Sun May-Oct; )
This bookshop-cafe sells caffeine to prolong your reading
time and does a cracking smoked salmon salad sourced locally. It specialises in books on
the social sciences and women's studies.
CAFE
WHITHORN
POP 867
Whithorn has a broad, attractive High St which is virtually closed at both ends (it was de-
signed to enclose a medieval market). There are few facilities in town, but it's worth visit-
ing because of its fascinating history.
In 397, while the Romans were still in Britain, St Ninian established the first Christian
mission beyond Hadrian's Wall in Whithorn (pre-dating St Columba on Iona by 166
years). After his death,
Whithorn Priory
, the earliest recorded church in Scotland, was
built to house his remains, and Whithorn became the focus of an important medieval pil-
grimage.
Today the ruined priory is part of the excellent
Whithorn Trust Discovery Centre
(
www.whithorn.com
; 45 George St; adult/child £4.50/2.25; 10.30am-5pm Apr-Oct)
,
which introduces you to the history of the town through a very informative audiovisual
exhibition. There's an ongoing archaeological investigation here, and you can see the site
of earlier churches. There's also a museum with some fascinating early Christian stone
sculptures, including the
Latinus Stone
(c 450), reputedly Scotland's oldest Christian
artefact. Learn about the influences their carvers drew on, from around the British Isles
and beyond.
ISLE OF WHITHORN
POP 400
